Shielded grip ring for coaxial connector

Abstract

A grip ring for a coaxial connector couples with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor. The c-shaped ring is provided with a gap between a first end and a second end. A shield portion extends from the first end and a slot portion dimensioned to receive the shield portion provided in the second end. The shield portion keys with the slot portion as a diameter of the grip ring is reduced. An inner diameter of the grip ring is provided with a grip surface. Further, the grip ring may be provided with a flange edge at the cable end projecting from the outer diameter.

Description

BACKGROUND1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to electrical cable connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to an internal grip ring for a solid outer conductor insertion coupling type coaxial cable connector.2. Description of Related ArtCoaxial cable connectors are used, for example, in communication systems requiring a high level of precision and reliability.To create a secure mechanical and optimized electrical interconnection between the cable and the connector, it is desirable to have generally uniform, circumferential contact between a leading edge of the coaxial cable outer conductor and the connector body. A flared end of the outer conductor may be clamped against an annular wedge surface of the connector body via a coupling nut. Representative of this technology is commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,188 issued Aug. 18, 1998 to Harwath.Machine threaded coupling surfaces between the metal body and the metal coupling nut of U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,188 and si...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Clamp ring threads 37 between the connector body bore 5 and an outer diameter of the clamp ring 31 may also be provided as an alternative to the retaining feature 29. To enable the coaxial connector 1 to be supplied as a ready-for-installation assembly, the clamp ring threads 37 may be combined with the snap groove 33 and snap 35 interconnection to provide an assembly that may be supplied with the clamp ring 31 already attached to the connector body 3, preventing disassembly and / or loss of the internal elements, as shown for example in FIGS. 4-7. Where the retaining feature 29 combines the clamp ring threads 37 with the snap groove 33 and snap barb 35, the longitudinal travel of the clamp ring 31 with respect to the connector body 3 via threading along the clamp ring threads 37 is limited by a width within the snap groove 33 across which the snap barb 35 may move before interfering with the snap groove 33 sidewalls.

To minimize RF leakage through the gap 52 an overlap slot arrangement 54 may be applied wherein a shield portion 56 of a first end 58 of the grip ring 19 extends toward a corresponding slot portion 60 of a second end 64 of the grip ring 19, for example as shown in FIGS. 20-25. As the grip ring diameter is reduced by contact with the wedge surface 39, the shield portion 56 extends across the gap 52 and enters the slot portion 60, thereby closing the gap 52 without inhibiting the diameter variability of the grip ring 19. The closure of the gap 52 by the overlap slot arrangement 54 significantly reducing passage of RF leakage there through.

During cable assembly on embodiments with a clamp ring 31 and a retaining feature 29 including the clamp ring threads 37, the limited longitudinal movement obtained by threading the clamp ring 31 into the connector body 3 is operative to drive the wedge surface 39 against the grip ring 19 to move the grip ring 19 radially inward into secure gripping engagement with the outer conductor 11, without requiring the application of tension between the connector body 3 and the coaxial cable 13. Further, in embodiments where the spring contact 21 is also present in the grip ring groove 27, the threading of the clamp ring 31 into the connector body bore 5 may be configured to apply directly and / or via a spacer 43, if present, pressure on the spring contact 21 whereby the spring contact 21 deforms radially inward toward the outer conductor 11, increasing the contact pressure between the spring contact 21 and the outer conductor 11, thereby improving the electrical coupling there between.

One skilled in the art will appreciate the significant manufacturing and installation benefits of the present invention. During manufacturing, a complete coaxial connector 1 assembly ready for installation is prepared with a minimal total number of required elements. If a clamp ring 31 is included in the configuration, the installation of the spring contact 21, spacer 43, grip ring 19 and / or outer conductor seal 45 is simplified by the improved access to the grip ring groove 27, which may then be easily closed by snapping / threading the clamp ring 31 in place after the desired sub elements have been seated in the open end(s) of the connector body bore 5 and / or clamp ring 31. Further, the various environmental seals (outer conductor seal 45, jacket seal 53 and or clamp ring seal 59) may be each overmolded upon the respective groove(s) to provide a single assembly with integral environmental seals. Hole(s) 62 may be formed from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the clamp ring 31, enabling the outer conductor seal 45 and clamp ring seal 59 to be overmolded as a unitary inter-supporting gasket, best shown in FIG. 10. The additional retention of the outer conductor seal 45 provided by overmolding through the hole(s) 62 also enables an outer conductor seal 45 profile with a wiper extension 65. The wiper extension 65 enables the outer conductor seal 45 to more securely seal against both smooth and corrugated outer conductor coaxial cable(s) 13. A further overmolding may be applied in the form of a clamp ring grip 63, for example as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, on an outer diameter of the clamp ring 31 for improved installer grip during hand threading of the clamp ring 31 into the connector body 3.

Problems solved by technology

Machine threaded coupling surfaces between the metal body and the metal coupling nut of U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,188 and similarly configured prior coaxial connectors significantly increase manufacturing costs and installation time requirements.

Another drawback is the requirement for connector disassembly, sliding the back body over the cable end and then performing a precision cable end flaring operation, which retains the cable within the connector body during threading.

Further, crimping and / or compression becomes impractical with larger diameter coaxial cables, as the increased diameter, sidewall thickness and / or required travel of the corresponding connector / back body(s) increases the required force(s) beyond the levels deliverable by conventional crimp / compression hand tools.

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